Speaker Straus to Retire and Senate Interim Chargers

Reports are that House Speaker Joe Straus will not run for reelection….

Lt. Governor’s Dan Patrick has released his interim charges including:

Higher Education Committee

Improving Transferability: Examine and make recommendations regarding policies that will help students make informed decisions regarding transferring credits among institutions.

System/Campus Expansion: Consider what role the state should have in overseeing the approval and development of new higher education locations into geographical areas already served by existing institutions

Funding Models: Examine different models of student-focused funding for general academic institutions competency-based and performance funding models and make recommendations on whether a new funding model would produce greater efficiencies

Mandate Reduction: Examine all current state and federal regulations on public higher education institutions and consider whether reductions of regulations could reduce fees

Monitoring: Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Higher Education Committee and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance and/or complete implementation.

State Affairs Committee

Campus Free Speech: Ascertain any restrictions on Freedom of Speech rights that Texas students face in expressing their views on campus.